After the hard work ends, the celebration begins!
Here’s everything you need to know about the graduation ceremony.
Once you’ve completed all of your course requirements it’s time to graduate! Take these few easy steps and San Jac will have all the information we need to award your degree or certificate officially.
When you are in your final semester, select the My Student Records tab in SOS, then Apply to Graduate. You should apply to graduate even if you don’t plan to walk in the commencement ceremony. Make sure your name, major, diploma, and mailing address are correct. Students who apply for graduation on time will ensure that their names will appear in the commencement program.
After your final grades are posted, the Center for Advising, Career & Transfer office verifies that all pending items have been completed on your Graduation Status Check. Diplomas are ready about six weeks after final grades post. When your diploma is printed and your degree is posted, you are officially a college graduate! Time to celebrate!
As graduates exit the stage, they’ll be guided to an area to have their photo taken by Flash Photography. The company will email students a link to their photograph proofs. You are not obligated to purchase photos. If you have questions, contact Flash Photography at 214-443-9393 or visit their site.
Missed the Spring 2024 ceremony? Want to show friends and family your walk across stage? Watch it here.
Graduation caps and gowns can be purchased at the campus bookstore for $48.98. Women wear their caps throughout the ceremony. Men remove their caps for the Invocation.
If you already own a solid black gown and cap, you’re welcome to wear them. The college uses a black tassel, which you can purchase in the bookstore.
Can I wear special regalia?No high school cords, stoles, medals, or tassels are allowed to be worn (with the exception of early college high school medals, see below). Only the following approved specialty regalia, cords, stoles, medals, or tassels will be allowed to be worn:
For many students, decorations on graduation caps (mortar boards) are a symbol of pride and accomplishment. The decorations represent personalized statements about accomplishments that can be presented in the form of a quote, image, or symbol.
To ensure that commencement exercises remain dignified celebrations of achievement of all students, we provide the following guidelines and expectations.
Here are a few examples of decorative ideas for highlighting your celebratory achievement:
Decorations are limited to the top of the mortar board. Embellishments that are higher than one inch or that hang over the side are prohibited as they may be distracting or interfere with another individual’s view.
All rules and regulations in the San Jacinto College Code of Student Conduct will be in effect during commencement. In particular, the following messages or images are prohibited on mortar boards at commencement:
Should a participant fail to comply with these guidelines and expectations, the student will be asked to remove decorations or purchase a new non-decorated mortar board to wear during commencement. The participant’s original mortar board will be returned to the participant after the ceremony. Failure to comply may result in the participant’s exclusion from the ceremony.
What should I wear to the ceremony?Arrive dressed in regalia. The stadium will not have a dressing area. Dress comfortably. The venue is not heated or air-conditioned, so it can vary between very hot and very cold depending on the weather. We recommend you wear comfortable shoes, suitable for walking on dirt tracks and other slippery areas, climbing stairs, and long periods of standing.
The Fall 2024 Commencement Ceremony is Friday, December 13, 2024, at 7 p.m. at Minute Maid Park, 501 Crawford Street, Houston, TX 77002.
Expand All Collapse All Do I need to RSVP to walk in the ceremony?Yes. We assign all graduates a seat in advance based on their RSVP. We email invitations and you’ll need to visit the RSVP link and complete that information by the assigned deadline in the email.
If you missed the deadline – or if you can’t remember if you’ve RSVPed yet – please email commencement@sjcd.edu, and we will give you directions on what to do next.
When should I arrive? Where do I go when I arrive?All graduates must go to the registration area to get their name cards. From there, we’ll have staff directing you to your seat.
Can I leave after my name is called?Graduates who attend will have to stay in their seats until the end of the ceremony. If you cannot stay for the whole ceremony, we ask that you consider attending the next semester's ceremony.
Can I bring my cell phone or purse? Can I carry flowers across the stage?You cannot carry anything into the seating area. Leave all belongings with your guests; this includes purses, bubbles, flowers, etc. You cannot have anything but your name card that will be given to you at registration. Cell phones are allowed if carried in a pocket or a very small purse worn under your gown that is not visible.
There are no tickets for the ceremony, and there are no limits to the number of guests a graduate can invite. Seating is first come first seat, and we do not reserve seating for guests.
What if my guest needs help with seating?Event staff will be in the stadium to help with seating for guests who need assistance.
Can babies come to the ceremony? Can I bring a stroller?The ceremony is approximately an hour and a half long, which can be very long for some children to sit through. The ceremony is live-streamed and can be watched at home.
Strollers are not permitted in the seating area and must remain in the concourse area, where no one will monitor the strollers.
